The Sun. — London, England, 1818-08-24 00:00:00

PAR LIAM bN TA RY PAPERS. REPORT ON :fHE LICENSING SYSTEM. (Ortlered Gy the House of Commons to be printed, June 5,1818.) Your Committee having had a petition referred to them, which was presented to the House by certain Magistrates of the county of Surrey, COM' phitling of aspersions on their characters by evi dence taken before your Committee, during the la'st Session of Parliament, proceeded to hear the parties themselves ; and having so done, they feel it their duty to declare,, that they consider the Magistrates as exempt' from all blame. Mr. Whit burn may have a right to censure the party of whom he bought the house in question, but the conduct of the Magistrates stands • unimpeached ; they acted according to their long-declared inten tion, and deprived a public-house of a license, nu der the opinion that a power which is annually put in execution was entrusted to them by law. Your Committee retrain front again generally discussing the licensing question ; they refer to the First Report of last year, in which they en deavoured to demonstrate how the law really stands, as well as the practice which has arisen Out of it ; the cases of hardship and most unwar rantable interference on the part of a diviskin of the Middlesex Magistrates, which are detailed in the evidence annexed to this Report, fully satisfy your Committee of the necessity of legislative re wetly ; and they trust this question, important as it is to the property of thousands, and above all to the morals of the poorer classes of society, will be brought before the con iideration of Parliament tally in the ensuing Session. FEMALE PROSTITUTION. Your Committee have had referred to them a Petition from the City of London, telative to the extent and pernicious effects of female prostitu tion in the metropolis ; and the inquiries they have instituted into the subject have satisfied them that it is necessary to make some alteration in the existing laws. The extent of this evil appears to them to be of the greatest magnitude. Your Committee have been informed that a So civiy has been established, calling itself " The Guardian Society," the object of which is to pre serve the public morals, and to provide temporary asylums for prostituteS removed by the Opti:26oll of the law from the public streets ; and to afford to such as are destitute employment and relief. That Society has furnished to your Committee some details upon this subject that ate most afflicting. .Out or three parishes, consisting of 9924 houses and 59,030 inhabitants, there are 360 brotals, and 2000 common prostitutes. By the authority of the late Lord Mayor, this Society visited Bridewell ; and the result of their exami nation is as follows :—They visited and examined 111 of these wretched women, the ages of whom varied from 14 to 54 ; the largest proportion ap pearing to be of the ages from IS to 22: No. Age. No. Age. No. Age, No. Age. lof 14 Iloof 21 10 of 26 I sof :2 1 of 16 I 13 of 22 9 of 27 2 of 3:3 lof 17 60f23 I 4of 28 5.f 35 11 of 18 1 of 24 6 of 29 :3 ,f :36 12 of 19. 3 of 25 7 of .0 i of 51 Out of these, eighty-title bad been in a state of prostitution from two months to twenty-years; end the I:3rgest iTtoportion of these from two to three years. These unfortunate creatures are re peatedly committed to prison ; and instances have occurred where they have been imptisoned from 18 to 30 tunes. Yolir Committee refrain from going further into details on this subject; and beyond the in formation above stated, they have not had any evidence which could be relied Oil to establish the number of that class of women who support them selves by public prostitution. But it cannot have escaped the public observation, that the streets are crowded every ;light by women of the most abandoned and profligate characters, who gene rally accost the passengers with some obscene and disgusting expression ; who seduce those whose youth exposes them most to their artifices, and whose necessary avocations oblige them to frequent the public streets. Those women, by their interference and riotous conduct, are the principal cause of the disturbances and broils that nightly disgrace the metropolis. There seems to be a sort of system adopted among them, that gives to each class a certain rli►ision in which they prowl fot their prey, secure from any inter ruption by the guardians of the night police, whose favour and pro te ction they secure by sharing with them the wages of their prostitution. To such an extent does this nuisance exist, as to drive from the streets (it not being safe to walk in them) modest females, whose avocations lead them abroad at night„and who arc exposed to the taunts and insults of these women and their followers, Your Committee are fully aware of the diffi sub y of suppressing this evil; but they are'well assured that a greater degree of vigilance on the Darr of the watchmen, whose honesty can alone be secured by the frequent inspection of the con stable, beadles, and the different parish officers or watch committees, under whose controul they are, would operate as a more effectual check to it, titan any alteration of die existing laws, to which they feel inclined to object. It is the duty of the watchmen tee preVent obveen..t exhibitions, riots, broils, and distwirances in the streets ; and if that duty was done, nine-tenths of the nuisances corn plA;ned of would erase. As an example of the benefits likely to ensue front the co-operation of the most respectable in habitants in regulating the police of their respec tive parilies, your Committee beg leave to refer to the improved state of the parish of Christ Church, Spitalfields, as contained in the Minutes of the evidence taken before them. With respect to houses of ill-fame, the difficulty end eNptitee of indicting then►, and the impedi ments in the way of discovering the real occu piers, h►►ve frequently deterred the parish officers fioni proceeding against them ; and even when they have obtained a verdict against them, the same profligate conduct has been carried on under diftereot names, in the very same houses. Thus the keepers of those_ dissolute houses evade the punishment they deserve, and continue, with al most tutire impunity, the practice of those actions which the law has vainly. sought .to discourage and ut down:. Although your Committee are not sanguine enough to suppose that any measures can he adopted which can totally prevent the existence of such receptacles of vice, yet they are anxious t o limit their number as n►uch as lmssit►le, so that the virtuous part of society may be in less dan ger of annoyance and contamination. Under thesc impressions they beg leave to suggest, that the public; would find great benefit from a more summary mode of proceeding against then', upon information, on the oath of ttco or more respect able inhabitants, before two Police Magistrates, or ttvu County Magistrates in Petty Sessions, who should have power to summon the parties, and to hear and determine the case; and upon convic tion of the offenders., should have power to pu nish them by fine or imprisonment. Your Committee wish particularly to direct the attention of tite House to a practice upon this subject, which marks strongly the abuses that may grow out of a system of rewards for tl►e conviction of offenders. By the 25th Geo. 11. cl►. 36, sec. 5, the parish officers 'are commanded to prosecute any person keeping a disorderly house, on the re quest of two parishioners, who enter into a security to furnish the material evidence to convict the parties concerned; the reward for each conviction, teu pounds, to be paid by the parish to each of the two persons prosecuting. In - the last year, a Mr. Bunton, one of those solicitors who hover round the different police offices, was employed to indict several persons keeping disorderly • houses in Baron's-buildings, in the parish of St. George the-Martyr, Southwark. As is customary on those occasions, when a gross fraud is about to be practised, the motives which were stated to direct the conduct of the prosecutors were set forth to be of the most laudable nature-- they required no more " than the Nic and rea sonable costs - and charges attendant on the pro secutions of the various indictments." Ten per sons were convicted on these indictments ; the agent, Mr. Bandon, 'confessing himself in tl►e court,that he bad gone round to the parties, per suading them to plead guilty ; the sum of 2001. was demanded of the parish for these convictions, ors the payment of the costs and charges, which were run up to the awn of 1921.123. 4d. Great suspicion appears on the face of this proceeding to fall on one of the Clerks of the. Office at Union Hall, who was concerned in a similar manner in 1813. .170.1ir Committee recommend the subject to the examination of the Magistrates, and it the accusation can be supported by proof, they are sa tisfied the Clerk alluded to is unworthy to act any longer in ,his situation. The conduct of some of the inferior Officers of Union-Hall appears to be most reprehensible ; and your Committee refrain from further comments, being satisfied the Ma gistrates of that district will feel it to be their duty to enter into a minute investigation of the grievance - complained of, by Which, under the pretence of putting down disorderly houses, pa rishes ate defrauded, and those who ought to cor rect abuses derive a profit by their continuance. Your Committee cannot close this part of the subject allotted to their investigation, without al luding to the various propositions that have been made to them, and the projects that have been submitted to their review, some of which may well deserve the consideration of the L'egislature ; of this nature, is the power which it is proposed to give to the Crown to nominate counsel, who, with moderate salaries, should conduct all crimi nal prosecutions. Your Committee entertain no doubt that the early detection and speedy punish ment of offenders are much frustrated by the present system, which forces the individual, in a great de gree,to prosecute at his own expence for the injuries which he may have sustained in person or pro perty; justice is often thereby prevented taking its due course; prosecutors no less than witnesses are tatnpered with, and some are induced to sub mit to the*loss they have suffered, by motives of ill-judged compassion ; others, from feelings of apprehension of further injuries ; all these causes conspire to give a degree of impunity tri offenders, which is greatly injurious to the public peace. But your Committee cannot avoid expressing an opinion, that by a further extension of liberal payment in Courts of Justice, of the expenses in curred by prosecutors and Witnesses—and above all, by a careful revision of those parts of our Cri minal Laws, which public opinion has pronounc ed as too severe for the mild and merciful feel ings of the age in which we live—this species of public accuser (an office of odious appellation) may no longer be considered as necessary, and the justice of the - country will preserve its regular course, and not he impeded in its march by con scientious scruples, th e poverty or fear of in dividuals. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. • Your Committee wish', on many other subjects which have been brought under their considera tion, to refer generally to the evidence ; there will be found notch that is most valuable to those who seek' practically to better the condition of the so ciety in which they live: But while they cannot avoid pointing the attention of the House to the alarming augmentation of criminals, and to the in creasing multitude of all species of crime, they, however, hope, that this lamentable proof of po verty and distress among the people is but tem porary. The evidence of persons well qualified to speak on these topics, describe the character of offences to be much more mild than heretofore, and the general manners and morals of the peo ple to have been in the course of gradual improve ment. Your Committee trust, that the promo tion of educatioh, which is now advancing with rapidity, and the means thereby afforded of fixing the great truths of morals and religion on the minds of the people, will bring them back to those virtuous courses, which alone ensure, on a stable security, the Etreatuess and happiness of the na tion. Your Committee have received from several of the Magistrates, whom they have examined, various opinions upon the important subject of the prevention of crimes, which is deemed by them to be of primary importance. This is a subject of !peat difficulty. - It is . no doubt true, that to prevent crime is better than to puni sh it ; but the difficulty is not in the end but the means ; and though your Committee cOulitimagine a system of Police that might arrive at the object sought for, yet in a free country, or even in one where any unrestrained intercourse otsociety is admittett. such a* system would of necessity be odious and repulsive, and one which no govern ment would be able to carry into execution. In despotic countries it has never yet succeeded to the extent aimed at by those theorists; and among a flee people, the very proposal would be rejected with abhorrence ; it would be a plan which would make every servant of every house a spy on the actions of his master, and all classes of society spies on each other. Tie police of a free country is to be found in rational and humane laws ; in an effective amid enlightened magistracy—and in the judicious and proper selection of those officers ofjustice, in whose hands,as conservators of the peace,executive duties are legally placed ; but, above all, on the mot al habits and opinions of the people ; and in proportion as these approximate towards a state of per!ection, so that people my rest in security; and though their property may occasionally he in vaded, or their lives endangered by the hands of wicked and desperate individuals, yet the institu tions of tie country being sound, its laws well ad ministered, And justice executed against offenders, no greater safeguard can be obtained, without sacrificing all those rights, which society was in stituted to preserve. Your Committee submit to the consideration of the House the evidence which has been delivered to them by the late Ordinary of Newgate, Dr. Ford ; the present Ordinary, Mr. Cotton ; Mr. Newman, the late keeper ; Mrs. Fry, and other respectable and well-informed persons, touching the effect of capital punishments, as well as that of transportation to Botany Bay. They forbear from•entering into details on these subjects they are of the deepest importance, and spread over a wide field : your Committee, therefore, leave them for the present, under the hope that, at least for die examina tion of the latter question, they may be permitted to resume their labour next Session.—June 5, 1818. CORONER'S INQUEST. EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE OF A BOY. An Inquisition was taken on Saturday night be fore THOMAS SHELTON, Esq., Coroner, at the house of a Lady named Blackuder, in Broad street-builtlings, Bank, on the body of a boy, nearly 15 years of age, named Michael Long, who put an end, to his existence on Friday after noon by hanging himself. Blackuder deposed, that the deceased was her footboy ; be had been little more than a week in her service ; he If ad lately lived with a Gentle man named Frazer, and she, at his request, took him into her family, until he could make arrange ments to have him again, or procure him a situa tion more according with nis disposition. He was a good disposed boy, and was beloved for his readiness to serve every one. On Thursday and Friday mornings last he was very thoughtful, me lancholy, and depressed in his spirits, and seemed afraid lie should be out of place ; she told him she would put him in the porter's place rather than he should be destitute. Mr. Best, who lived in Mrs. Blackuder's house, said, that on Friday he wanted the deceased to go on an errand, and he could not be found ; one of the females in the house went tip stairs, and screamed very loud ; he had a knife in his hand, and rim up stairs, as he believed Cie boy had hanged himself, and said so to the servants ; he cut the by down, and went for a surgeon. Foreman—Why did you say that you believed the buy had hanged himself before you saw him ? Witness—The deceased had said some time be fore that he was miserable is his situation, and be would not live. Every means was used to restore him by the surgeons, ineffectually. The cord which the deceased hung him,elf with was a piece of thin bed cord. He had tied one end to the rails of the stairs, and the other round his neck, and thrown himself over. A Gentleman named Cunningham, and other witnesses, corroborated the above evidence. Mrs. Turner, a servant in Mrs. lilackuder's house, deposed, that the deceased expresSed his opinion that he should come to want a situatioo. He did not like the place he was in, and on Fri day morning he wished he was dead he was peeling some potatoes, and muttered something indistinctly, and afterwards said he would go out for half an hour upon some business, and she heard him go to the front door and open it, and heard it shut again, and supposed he waS gone out, but it appeared that lie went up stairs, and committed the act of suicide. He had been un easy in his mind for some days prior, and said, that when he was in Mr. Frazer's service a ser vaut attempted to cut his throat,' and added— " God forbid he should lose his life in such a rash manner." 1111 . . Alexander Frazer, of 27, Thaviea-Inn, de posed, that the deceased had been his servant for two years; he employed him first as a foot-boy and to wait at table. The boy was very fond of learn ing, and lie gave him an opportunity of gaining those qualifications which he seemed so eager to obtain. He gave him writings to copy, and em ployed him in his office occasionally to write and read ; the boy evinced no small talent. Lately be objected to do menial offices, not in word, but by his actions. A female servant of his and the de ceased were constantly quarrelling, and lately they became so violent that they fought with knives,and he was obliged to part with the deceased, as he was afraid that they might do each other souse perso nal injury. lie got his friend, Mrs. Bldekuder, to take the boy ; and on the day preceding his death he received a long letter from him. He did not send an answer, but on the morning of Friday last the deceased came to his chamber for one, and he 101(1 him that he could not take him back at present, but if he could make arrangements in a short time, he would try to take him again. The deceased was very much depressed when he. called upon him, and begged him to take him again with great earnestness. Verdict—" Died by his own act, committed in a state of insanity." Two soldiers ofithe 55th Regiment, who lately deserted from Jeisey, have been arrested by the French Atithorittes at Cherburz, Mutt sent to Guenisey. .. }. From the *LONLION i . GAZETTE, MG. 22' War-Office, August 21, 1818. At 13th Regiment of Light Dragoons—Lieut. Joseph - from the 33d F oo t, t o b e Li eu t enan t, v ic e Stopford' exc lianges. ntlp 27th Regiment of F oo t—Ensign William Bigoe Bucha to be Lieutenant, by pu ic h a se, vice H a ndc o ck, prool ° red. , s tft 33d Ditto—Lieutenant Thomas Stopford, front th e 0 . Light Dragoons, to be Lieutenant, vice Lynam, W bc changes. 76th Ditto—Ensign Henry Wood to be Lientenant),, Ll %;er• chase, vice Daniell, promoted in the 99th Foot; 4. - g t to Master Serjeant George Stephens to be Quarter -ma ' vice Bamborough, who resigns. r Oa Royal York Rangers—Lieutenant Standish O'Grady, ir ° , a ptt, half-pay of the 87th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice d" -. t nry Potts, who h exchanges. Itt STA yv.—Colonel Jon Nlaedonald, on the half-pal o f the w Garrison Battalion, to he Deputy Adjutant-General t°, th e Forces, vice Major-General Darling, appointed tiP °9 Staff of the Mauritius. i f OP HoSPITA STAFF.—Dr. John Mackenzie, from the ba, -- • iel to be Physician to the Forces, vice Dr. Edward Natltt s Bancroft, who exchanges ; Staff-Surgeon Edward from the half-pay, to be Surgeon to the Forces. (Vice of Ordnance, Aug. 19, 18 19. C. Royal Regiment of Artillery—Gentlemen Cadets ROh e rt Smyth, vice Watkins, promoted; Samuel A. Severnet fi re Cotton, promoted ; Joseph Hollingworth, vice Jago' P muted ; Charles W. Wingfield, vice Palmer, promotel Alexander Tulloh, vice Griffin, promoted ; John S. F art S, vice Lethbridge, promoted ; Samuel W. May, vice P1. „,,A 6 resigned ; George P. Heywood, vice Somerville, Po— ed ; to be Second Lieutenants. Commission in the Holland Yeomanry Cavalry, sig Lord Lieutenant of the County of 1 U Gent. to be Lieutenant. Lincoln—we: BANKRUPTCIES ENLARGED. R. Blore, Craven-place, Bayswater, stone-mason, from 3, to Sept. 26 rdaSh ef . • T. Walker, George-street, St. Mary-le-bonne, babe-- from Aug.2s, to Sept. 26. BANKRUPTCIES SUPERSEDED. J. Lane, Cheapside, warehouseman. J. W. Pearson, Great Marlborough-street, dentist. - H. Stephens, Peuryn, Cornwall, merchant. J. Smith, Holmfirtii, Yorkshire, clothier. BANKRUPTS. A u g W. Leigh, Bath-street, Bethnal Green, merchant, Sept. I, and Oct. 3, at twelve, at Guildhall. Attor ne Y , Lyon, East India Chambers, Leadenhall-street. W. Lumley, y ley, Jenny-street, St. James's, wine-tuerchan' tavern-keeper, Aug. 25, Sept. 1, awe' ' Oct. 3, at cle"y Guildhall. Attorney, Mr. Haynes, Fenchurch-street.lo, W. Bousfield, May's-buildings, St. Martin's-laneo ":11 11 0 .y draper, Aug. 29, Sept. 12, and Oct. 3, at eleven, at Ipr ball. Attorney, Mr. Blackford, Old-square, Li ll° Inn. i tt G. Page, Cranbourne-street, silk-mercer, Aug. 29, - - 1,00/ and Oct. 3, at twelve, at Guildhall. Attorney, M r ' ^" • Old Jewry. 4 ,010 J. Hoar e, Bristol, calenderer, Sept. 7,8, and Oct. 3 . at 4, 0 0* at the Commercial Rooms, Bristol. Attornicso „ Poole and Greenfield, Gray's-inn-square. Ott.: • J. Marshall, Sheffield, shoe-maker, Aug. 28, 29, a n d at eleven, at the Town Hall, Sheffield. Att o rnies, • Stocker, Dawson, and H erringliain, New Boswell°:-AtIP C. Milford, Gallway-street, St Luke's, cabioet-Inat e ,i'ata a r a 25, Sept. - 12, and. Oct. 3, at ten, at Guildhall. Mr. Reynolds, Hertford-street, Fitzroy-square. ~ et Pai W. Burton, Hinckley, Leicestei shire, hosier, Sept./VA 3,, at the O ffi ce of Mr. Soden, Hinckley, 19, and 1.'"; eleven, at the George Inn, Hinckley. Al to ta c i' . • Beckett, Noble-street, Faleon-square. J. Rose, St. Michael's-alley, Cornbill, provision la foto,. Aug. 25, Sept. 1, and Oct. 3, at ten, at Guildhall.„,,,Jr. • nies, Messrs. Clarke, Richards, and Nares, Gre at street. F. Devereux and M. Lambert, Brabant-court, Merchants, Aug. 29, Sept. 1, and Oct. 3, at'clifisPo Guildhall. Attornies, Messrs. Sweet, Stokes,j Basinghall.street. c ,„,t 1, a s / R. Spooner, Combat, woollen-draper, Aug. 2 5 , "`r Oct. 3, at len, at Guildhall. Attornies, Meest 1 , and Gliddon,Girdler's Hall, Basinghall-strect. rod, M. M. Jones, Pantheon Riding House, Black frars. t, elee very-stable-keeper, Aug. 25, Sept'. 5, and Oc t- 3, aird, at Guildhall. Attornies, _Messrs. Draper a nd, „ change-huildings, Bank. t, fit, W. James, Clemeat's-lane, Lombard-street, In t . ThAtOr P' ' 45, Sept. 12, and Oct. 3, at ten, at Gaildhall. Messrs. Nind and Cott erill, Tbroginorton-street- crop* J. N. Durand, Upper Cumming- street,Pentonvill , T . Att c ' Aug. 25, Sept. 1, and Oct. 3, at ten, at Guil d h all ncy, Mr. Earnshaw, Redcruss-street, Cri pp legat g ' (Dividends, 4.T. te-morroW.) / fS / r e;. ~f t Op 0 04 ef It? Za7 W ee , rn tke • llN cc klj ] ~Fo,t . .(1 b r . d 41101 : I. Yat i tiuti DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN PRINCES-ST AF.°'. tS Yesterday morning, about three o'clo cic 'flo g/ watchman was going hii rounds, lie W I issue front the windows of Mr. COolt'§•11°-1i;old Princes-street, Drury-lane; he immediatel c ' his rattle, and alarmed m the instates, il i s s et' sisted of Mr. Cook, who is a single non' li , e piP° vants, and two elderly Ladies, who we'' mas t in the second floor. Air. Cook's first Car e ItO take out the old Ladies, in which be to ce :io they had not time to dress, and lie left th e ",, place of safety ; he next endeavoured to sf i ` , t 0 books, but fonnd the fire at this time lo d 0 16 much a head, that it was impossible to en te e j house by the staircase, and he eildeavo Lb° get in at the first floor wiodow,by clitnhiogoli4 water pipe; but in this effort. he failed, 30(1 ft upon the stones, Lie was very Inn" 0 0° said his arm was broken. The consteroa WO; all the neighbours was exceedingly great suet men and children were rushibg tplite naked, being roused out of " le , ir the cry of " fire." The engines of I ° e i l y ar s Fire' Offices soon arrived, and began lo , P i l ocr il)1 „i the devouring element with the grea' es ` : :, to but the fire increased, and lane'continunicAli do,f house of Mr. Penny, publican in Drury roo, the house of M r.Els worth, the cheese atong i e o ( i)e) door, their attention was directed therer,:,. es cer i : succeeded in saving both houses, with ti i c y w i i ic o lion of their back premises, but the b"" sc i, J l l the fire broke out was totally consul-o,l_o awl the property. Mr. Cook is a hot-presovres is conjectured the fire took place in tit ' The property destroyed is immense. 10 111 bt A carrier pigeon, which had been b r °, `l „ g i i S 3l . l' o l f front London to Norwich, was starte i " o ; be i ci ot day morning front that city, to deternt:o,o : P o p five guineas, that it returned to L r hours, which it did in five mioutes on",forsl3l.l time. The sante bird arrived i n town a few days before, itt three bo,►rs. Arq pr ,scl ° MARRIED. ga nov— staltei On Saturday last, at St. George's procef' t h e J o ts Michael Bruce, Esq. eldest soli of Cou'ijoidow Upper Grosvenor-street, to Lady Vat keri rop er , fi r° Captain Sir Peter Parker, Bart. U.N. of ' DIED. o w, r in j il a• Friday morning, at Isis house, Kine s 4, t he Ashley, Esti, the celebrated perforwer j ir " op . Al cti, On the 7111, at Kensington Houses S • Salto ' late of Mail; Hall, Essex. ' On the Iclth inst. at Earl Sobants in jou , .- 7 ,0 1 Charles Whishaw, Esq. formerly of CiraY Or A, „qv or, o f St l ;, L ONDON: Printed by J. B. CARSTAlv'Pllisheat Ormond-street, Queen-square; aud..strew' di/ SCRIPPS, of No. 7, South Moltoll,e „joist Office, No. 112, Strand ; wh ere d A d tr :oci. Lttters i (post-paid) must bo.a t tt. \:". A